Residents groups challenged Camden Council over plans to allow pubs and bars to stay open later.

And one councillor warned that people did not trust consultations after officials were told the plans tilted the balance away from those blighted by noise, litter and crime.

Camden councillor Jonathan Simpson had put forward plans to boost the borough’s night life by relaxing rules around opening hours and how many pubs or clubs are allowed in set areas.

Camden Council's licensing committee was due to discuss changes to the policy in January, but cancelled it at the last minute for "further engagement" after residents’ groups warned they would worsen noise and crime - and police were also understood to have raised concerns.

Those groups and others filled the council chamber on Tuesday to put their case to officers.

Kate Gemmell, volunteer chair at Tenants’ and Residents’ Association Camden Town (TRACT), argued that the new proposals “firmly shift the balance in favour of businesses”.

“We challenge anyone to walk the streets near these high streets at 8am in the morning and see the resulting filth and litter, left by those using the late-night premises,” Gemmell said.

The council is seeking to extend the period when bars, pubs, restaurants and fast-food outlets can stay open without putting safeguards in place “to prevent crime and disorder” by 30 minutes.

For night clubs, music and dance venues, these times would be extended to 2am on Saturday and Sunday.

The council is also considering scrapping rules governing the number of licensed premises within set areas.

Liam O’Hare from landlord Labtech said the changes would “inject a new generation of operators into the town centre, and new ideas bringing vibrancy to the borough”.

His position is backed by Camden Town Unlimited, an elected group of business representatives.

Jamie Akinola, the borough’s director of public safety, argued the council would not simply give carte-blanche to new or varying premises licence bids.

He said: “That’s not the case. I expect them to be scrutinising all applications."

Mr Akinola stressed that applications are often “much more nuanced and responsive to local issues”, and that all are considered on a “case-by-case basis” involving relevant authorities — including the police.

Under the updated rules, those in charge of considering applications would have extra responsibilities to balance crime and disorder and economic considerations.

The policy has been put out for 12 weeks of public consultation.  

But Cllr Richard Cotton warned that people had grown sceptical of consultations as a serious way of involving the public in making decisions.

He said: “Police have made it clear they cannot cope with the existing pressures of the night-time economy, and they do not have the resources to cope with any significant increase in that.

“Last January, residents made clear the overriding thing they wanted was to preserve the delicate balance between their needs and the night-time economy.

“It feels as if one of the few protections residents are afforded is to be scrapped, and the optics of this are not good,” he said.

Mr Akinola said: “What’s absolutely crucial is that active and engaged residents’ communities feel that the policy gets that balance right, and that authorities are putting through local information that can inform the decision-making process.”